Alþjóðaglæpadómstóllinn

Alþjóðaglæpadómstóllinn, commonly known as the International Criminal Court (ICC), is an intergovernmental organization and permanent international tribunal. Its primary mandate is to investigate and prosecute individuals accused of the most serious international crimes: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression. The Court is headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands.

Unlike international courts established for specific situations, the ICC is a permanent institution. Its establishment was a significant development in international law, aiming to end impunity for perpetrators of these grave offenses and to contribute to their prevention. The Court's jurisdiction is complementary to national criminal jurisdictions, meaning it can only exercise its authority when national courts are unable or unwilling to genuinely investigate or prosecute.

The ICC was established by the Rome Statute, an international treaty adopted in 1998 and which entered into force in 2002. States parties to the Rome Statute are members of the Assembly of States Parties, which oversees the Court's administration and management. The Court comprises several organs, including the Presidency, the Judicial Divisions (Appeals, Trial, and Pre-Trial Chambers), the Office of the Prosecutor, and the Registry. The Prosecutor's office independently investigates alleged crimes.